sidewalk shed
n.— «Even in the current stampede of building renovations, it is unusual that all four 1920s Park Avenue co-ops at the intersection of 89th Street have put up “sidewalk shed” scaffolding for masonry repairs.» —“Intersection Showcases a Quartet Emblematic of New York” by Christopher Gray New York Times Nov. 5, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Sigrin writes from Albany, New York, that she misheard our earlier conversation about the expression shaving yak hair meaning “performing a monotonous, tedious task.” At first she thought we said shaving gnat hair, which she figures is...
Sean in Oneonta, New York, says that when he was growing up in New Jersey, his family would pile in the car and set off on a surprise adventure, whether a short distance or long, and the kids would be told only that they were going on Buxtehude...